Considering an AMD upgrade? Now's the perfect time. Following the Ryzen 7 9800X3D's earlier release, AMD has launched its top-tier Ryzen 9 siblings in the Zen 5 "X3D" lineup: the 9950X3D ($699) and the 9900X3D ($599). These processors represent the pinnacle of gaming performance across both AMD and Intel. Gamers prioritizing pure performance should opt for the 9800X3D and allocate budget elsewhere; however, creators with larger budgets and a gaming passion will appreciate the substantial performance boost of the Ryzen 9 processors, thanks to their increased core count and cache.
Note: Processor availability fluctuates; stock is often limited.
$699.00 at Amazon
$699.00 at Best Buy
$699.00 at Newegg
Creative professionals seeking the best gaming chip need look no further. The 9950X3D boasts a 5.7GHz max boost clock, 16 cores, 32 threads, and a massive 144MB of L2-L3 cache. While only marginally better than the 9800X3D in gaming, its productivity performance significantly surpasses the other Zen 5 X3D chips and all Intel competitors.
"The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D may be the most powerful gaming processor currently available, but it doesn't automatically outperform every other chip. The more affordable Ryzen 7 9800X3D ($479) is sufficient for most users. The 9950X3D excels for gamers who also use creative applications like Photoshop and Premiere, offering a 15% performance improvement over the 9800X3D in those applications. For pure gaming, however, saving the extra $220 for a better graphics card is likely a wiser investment."
$479.00 at Amazon
$479.00 at Best Buy
$479.00 at Newegg
AMD's X3D series processors are gaming-optimized thanks to 3D V-Cache technology. All three CPUs utilize 3D V-cache on a single CCD, resulting in similar gaming performance across the board. Minor differences stem primarily from clock speed variations. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D features a 5.2GHz max boost clock, 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache. While capable of multitasking, rendering, and creative tasks, its core count isn't ideal for intensive workloads. However, it's a phenomenal gaming processor, especially at its price point.
"The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers exceptional gaming performance, making it easier to recommend than processors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. When paired with a powerful graphics card, the 9800X3D maximizes GPU performance."
$599.00 at Amazon
$599.00 at Best Buy
$599.00 at Newegg
The Ryzen 9 9900X3D is a suitable choice for those who perform creative work and game but need to stay within a budget where the 9950X3D is too expensive. It offers a 5.5GHz max boost clock, 12 cores, 24 threads, and 140MB of L2-L3 cache. While we haven't reviewed it yet, its performance is expected to fall between the 9950X3D and 9800X3D in productivity and multi-core tasks, and comparable to both in gaming.
If you waited to see if AMD's new GPUs matched Nvidia's Blackwell offerings, you made the right call. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are the new mid-range champions, offering exceptional performance at lower prices than their Nvidia counterparts. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550, and the 9070 XT starts at $600 (though manufacturer price increases may apply). Check out our Radeon RX 9070 GPU review and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU review for benchmark details.
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